Liquid–Solid Triboelectric Probes for Bubbles Status Monitoring

Abstract

Bubble status monitoring is essential for designing material nanostructures and optimizing industrial processes. However, tracking the fluid dynamics of bubbles is challenging due to their random distribution and irregular dynamic changes. In this study, a tube liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator serves as a probe to investigate bubbles at the liquid–solid interface. The study explores the impact of bubble fluid dynamics on liquid–solid contact electrification, examining variables such as flow rates, volumes, and release intervals of bubbles. The study demonstrates that the liquid–solid triboelectric probe can work as a non-intrusive and self-powered sensor for monitoring bubble states in chemical fluid control. The sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 13.2 V·cm−3, a signal-bubble volume correlation coefficient of 0.9964, and a rapid response time of 0.15 s. The sensor, integrated with a wireless module, enables continuous remote detection. This work provides a valuable tool for investigating tri-phase contact electrification dynamics and presents promising technology for bubble state monitoring.